Police checks target drunks

Whangarei police caught a number of alleged drink drivers over the weekend as attention on the region's roads continued.

Police have promised to keep a close eye on the roads this year, particularly targeting drunk and speeding drivers, and so it proved again at the weekend.

Sergeant John Larkin said a 21-year-old Onerahi man was stopped on Onerahi Rd at 11.50pm on Friday and allegedly had a reading of 484 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for motorists aged 20 and over is 400mcg while there is a zero limit for drivers aged under 20.

A 16-year-old girl from Wellsford was stopped on State Highway One, south of Whangarei, at 1.40am on Saturday allegedly with a level of 122mcg.

At 2.20am on Saturday a 26-year-old from Whangarei was stopped in Tarewa Rd and allegedly recorded recorded a level of 599mcg.

A Whangarei man was stopped in the city at 11.55pm on Saturday and allegedly recorded a reading of 798mcg.

Police announced earlier this year they will be breath-testing every driver pulled over in Northland in a bid to stop drink driving.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Murray Hodson said crashes involving drink driving played a major part in the region's road toll.

Meanwhile, A 19-year-old man is facing charges of drink-driving and driving while disqualified after crashing his car near the Waitangi Golf Club.